Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe - Volume 19, issue 3

Authors: Mayda, Jacqueline | Luige, Tiinia

Article Type: Introduction

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19301

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 117-118, 2002

Authors: Kunzler, Uwe

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: We are living in a fast changing world, especially in the ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) sector. In this difficult environment people like to use buzzwords and acronyms – in the title of this paper you find some of them used a lot in the statistical context. It is no problem to add more: CASI, CSAQ, EDI, XML, XBRL – all of them and many more will appear in this article (and in the glossary). It is not always easy for statisticians and ICT specialists to understand each other. However, ICT is needed to automate statistical data reporting in …order to save resources and improve processes – so both communities are condemned to co-operate. In this scenario, a third area with yet another jargon is playing an important role, namely e-business: more and more, statistical EDR is using e-business tools and methods, like for example EDIFACT or ebXML. This paper tries to shed some light on the ICT and e-business aspects of statistical data reporting. The questions addressed in this paper include: What is EDR? What is metadata for EDR? Which metadata standards for EDR are available or coming up? And how is the ESS concerned or involved? The current situation of EDI standardisation is examined in more detail: the transition from EDIFACT to XML and the adoption of ebXML for the ESS. Show more

Keywords: ESS, EDR, metadata, EDIFACT, XML, ebXML

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19302

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 119-130, 2002

Authors: Mayda, Jacqueline

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Statistics Canada has been offering Electronic Data Reporting (EDR) on a small scale as an option for survey respondents for several years. In the past year, the use of EDR has increased as more respondents and subject matter areas are requesting this data collection option. As a national statistical agency, Statistics Canada has strict policies related to confidentiality and privacy of respondent data. Technological and security-related issues have had to be addressed at each step along the way to providing EDR. This has had an impact on flexibility, user-friendliness and overall acceptance of the EDR tools provided thus far. Currently …we are focusing on two main ways of receiving data electronically. The first is an infrastructure to receive survey data securely through encryption algorithms applied to the data on the respondents workstation. The second method of EDR allows the respondent to complete an interactive questionnaire over the Internet using Secure Sockets Layer connections and encryption at source. The paper will include a brief description of the tools, a discussion of issues encountered in deploying EDR options, factors we have found that affect the adoption of EDR by respondents and future directions. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19303

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 131-140, 2002

Authors: Križman, Irena | Klanjšček, Mirko | Čerk, Anka

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Electronic data reporting (EDR) together with information communication technology (ICT) offers many possibilities to collect cheaper, timely and better quality data. At the same time it lowers the burden to the data respondent. But in order to achieve efficient EDR some needs are to be satisfied. In the following article projects running in the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SORS) and experiences gained are presented. The article concentrates on the strategies used to migrate research results into the production environment; it also deals with testing while maintaining the regular production, and coping with rapid changes in information …technology. Three projects from the SORS are presented, also discussing problems and solutions. The first project (EDI-FIN) is from the field of electronic data collection, where data are taken directly from the enterprises' financial records using experiences and tools from the Eurostat TELER (TELER – TELematics for Enterprise Reporting, (http://europa.eu.int/comm/eurostat/research/index.htm?http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/eurostat/research/dosis/teler/&1).) project. QUESTOR is the second project related to the subject of maintaining the process of data management in the input division of SORS. The third project is related to the integrated approach of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport and SORS in building the integrated web-based collection of data on upper secondary education. The abovementioned projects have exposed several management, organisational and policy issues. Some of them are: integration of the needs of several public institutions and possible future arrangements, problems of outsourcing the electronic data reporting (EDR) of NSIs, promotion of EDR and education of data respondents and internal staff, coping with transition period, challenges and possible obstacles for NSIs when understanding and using the current and future possibility of accessing data from electronic networks, data protection issues, etc. The outline of the article is as follows. First, EDR and its influence on the regular work is presented, and the background of implementing EDR in SORS is introduced. The overall production process and infrastructure as groundwork for introducing EDR for statistical purposes is shown. Then three projects related to EDR in SORS are presented with some details. At the end experiences – good and bad – gained during these projects, are presented, and also some questions that need to be answered in the future are emphasized. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19304

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 141-152, 2002

Authors: Swartz, Richard W. | Hancock, Charles

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The US Census Bureau is one of the largest collectors of statistical information, through its censuses and sample surveys, in the United States. Traditional methods of data collection such as mail, telephone interview, and door-to-door enumeration are increasingly giving way to new innovative data collection techniques. Among these are Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI), electronic data exchange, and, most recently Internet-based data collection. Internet-based data collection may well be the data collection technique of the future. The Census Bureau experimented, quite successfully, with this technique in its 2000 Census of Population and Housing. At …the present time, the IT organization is expanding the application of this technique to include its economic census and survey program at the request of project managers. Demographic statisticians have also expressed an interest in this data collection approach for demographic surveys. On the regulatory front, the Census Bureau is mandated by law to make web-based data collection an available alternative to more traditional data collection techniques. This article reviews the US Census Bureau's experience with web-based data collection in several of its economic and demographic surveys. It will address design and implementation techniques, component-based Internet data collection software, and our efforts to create a generic systems framework. The paper will also address a cadre of technical, privacy, security, and statistical issues as viewed by a large statistical agency with stringent confidentiality requirements. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19305

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 153-159, 2002

Authors: Bergstrøm, Yngve

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Electronic data and information exchange is a major issue in Statistic Norway's strategic plan for the next few years. The purpose of electronic data collection is to minimise the response burden and to improve the quality of data and the efficiency of data collection in the institution. Statistics Norway is already involved in several large projects in this field. Data from all municipalities and counties are reported electronically from this year, and work is underway to establish an infrastructure that will enable us to offer all companies the possibility of reporting by Internet. During the last years Internet has become …the main channel for disseminating statistics, and since data providers also are users of statistics, communication and feedback have come in focus. A relative large part of the statistics in the Nordic countries is based on administrative registers, and the work on developing electronic data collection also includes direct transfer from the data systems of data pr oviders (such as accounting systems and technical systems). Other important issues in our work are how data suppliers perceive electronic questionnaires, the handling of metadata in data collection, data security and organisational aspects of data collection (for example how to treat data collected in different ways effectively). Large businesses have a great impact on the statistics. For these businesses we think it is necessary to work with individual solutions. Finally the paper tries to address Statistics Norway within a broader context of governmental policy such as e-government and 24-hours access to public offices. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19306

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 161-173, 2002

Authors: Roos, Marko

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Various methods of data collection using the Internet can be distinguished. Choosing a certain method has implications for the survey design and how respondents can be recruited. In this article the various forms of data collection using the Internet are discussed, a new acronym – IESI, or Internet Enabled Self-Interviewing – is introduced, and strategies for recruiting respondents are discussed. Finally, experiences of Statistics Netherlands with data collection using the Internet are described.

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19307

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 175-186, 2002

Authors: Koller, Wolfgang | Rennert, Frederick | Zettl, Günther

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: It is very likely that electronic means of data reporting will become a standard in the near future. In the case of organizations with a wide range of surveys to manage, however, the effort involved in developing, disseminating and maintaining electronic questionnaires tailored to specific surveys is prohibitive. What is needed is a complete infrastructure covering all phases of the data collection process from the preparation of electronic questionnaires by subject matter specialists up to the management and initial processing of the transmitted raw data. In 1998 Statistics Austria initiated a research project with the mandate to develop a …generic solution of this kind for electronic raw data collection that can be used for any survey by specifying all survey-related meta-information – including questionnaire forms and validation checks – in Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) format. The core component of this system, the “electronic questionnaire management system” e-Quest, is a product that especially suits the requirements of complex statistical surveys. The paper presents the architecture of the system (including system components that are used internally at Statistics Austria for the preparation of new electronic questionnaires and for the processing of incoming data) and describes basic design principles and how they were implemented in e-Quest. Also discussed are different types and layers of metadata in the context of electronic data reporting. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19308

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 187-200, 2002

Authors: Branson, Merry

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) sees XBRL as having great potential for electronic data capture. It is important that any electronic data capture option offers a strong value proposition for the provider, especially when the provider is in regular and/or multiple collections. The value proposition is much stronger to deal electronically with us if the information can be extracted from their finance and/or other management information systems. The XBRL business case for providers is that important financial information is repackaged/reused for multiple purposes. Providers potentially can satisfy the reporting requirements of many government and other institutions, ranging from Taxation …to the Stock Exchange without manual or repetitive effort. E-government initiatives in Australia are marketing the idea of ‘tell government once’. Operationally this is very complex and privacy issues arise. The ABS thinks the ‘providers tag once’ is a much better proposition. Agencies instead can ask for XBRL files from providers and ‘map’ to their requirements. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19309

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 201-204, 2002

Authors: Har, Shifra

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS) decided to establish a National Data Collection Center instead of the traditional method which collects the data by regional offices and then sends it to the Center. One of the main guidelines for the establishment of the Center was the use of the Internet as a medium for data transfer between the interviewer and the Center (and visa versa), addressing the security issues. As a result, a universal path was created that uses the Web as a platform for CAPI applications.

Keywords: computer assisted personal interview, data collection center, internet

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19310

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 205-210, 2002

Authors: Björkqvist, Sven | Räikkönen, Toni | Koljonen, Eero

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper describes the experiences of Statistics Finland concerning security in electronic data collection. It gives an overview of the structure of the data collection in Statistics Finland, informs on current technologies and their lifecycles as well as gives some views about the role of security in electronic data collection. To support these views, the paper also presents some of the basic security requirements for Internet-based data collection through a real-life case study on how Statistics Finland has addressed security issues in Internet-based data collection of the building cost index system. Then the paper touches on the issue of …using PKI (public key infrastructure) as a potential solution for some of the problems in Internet-based data collection and evaluates the applicability and current status of this technology in Finland at the moment. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19311

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 211-218, 2002

Authors: Davtyan, Vanush | Poghosyan, Natalya | Shaboyan, Artashes

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia is paying a lot of attention to renewing its data collection with the aim to achieve maximum reporting efficiency. An important part of this exercise is the development of a metadata system which will have a pivotal role in coordinating the data collection, storage and dissemination. In order to substantially improve the questionnaires for data collection, a software package linked to metadata is used to automatically generate questionnaires. The development of the metadata system is closely coordinated with the creation of a Single Data Warehouse. The metadata system will also be …connected to databases producing statistical output allowing to link metadata to the output tables. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2002-19312

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 219-222, 2002